DoD Reports to Congress with Mystifying Excuses for Failing to Comply with Legislation

“Pilot Program” Held Paralyzed by

Pentagon’s Divisive Concern for Military Autistic Children

Autism Speaks obtained a letter from DoD to leaders in Congress dated May 7, 2013, expressing the several mystifying factors that make it impossible for autism therapies to be implemented. CMKAA, a federal law, was passed in 2012 and modified in Committee as a Pilot Program to be implemented no later than April 2, 2013. Families are still waiting.

It sounds like the DoD is truly worried for our military families with autism. If they start treating some of our kids, just think about what would happen:

First, there are too many kids to treat and not enough providers. Can you imagine? Even if one more child with autism received the treatment he or she needs while we figure this mess out? Well, that would be tragic. And I think promoting career advancement in the field of BCBAs is a stupid idea, too. I’m with you, DoD.

Next, apparently due to a lack of mobile diagnostic capability, the military kids who have autism are too spread out to find them all. So why start the search? We might actually find them. If we find them, we may have to treat them. Shhhhhh. Next thing we will find at our doorsteps are ghillie suits for our autistic kids with a note from the DoD that says, “Put this ghillie suit on your kid. Ghillie suits cure autism. And here’s a map to the nearest pond.”

Cannot treat what you cannot see.

If that doesn’t work, at some point the DoD will just have to start to acknowledge the existence of our thousands of autistic kids and that the treatments proven to work um, actually do. Which means, DoD, you will have to start treating them.

I know, DoD, if you start treating them, there will only be more and more to treat because autism is increasing in prevalence. So you’re right, DoD… let’s just pretend this all never happened. Coffee, anyone?

[The petition to Congress to actually MAKE autism treatments available to all military dependent children is still active and every signature sends a letter directly to every Armed Services Member urging them to take action. You will find the petition HERE. Sign it. SHARE it. Thank you.]

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

About Rachel Kenyon

Rachel Kenyon is an Aspie, Advocate and single mom of two beautiful babes - The Boy (11) and RM (8). The Boy is a Legomaniac and RM is a kick-ass diva with Autism and 4q Deletion Syndrome.
View all posts by Rachel Kenyon

3 responses to “DoD Reports to Congress with Mystifying Excuses for Failing to Comply with Legislation”

Rachel, if they started fully funding ABA therapy, then they would have to cut the variety of ketchups at the commissary from 15 to maybe 2 or 3. Don’t you be touching my commissary benefits. The American population just can’t afford to give military brats enough variety of ketchup AND ABA therapy.